'Halpern and Johnson' gets local debut at North Coast Rep

Lionel Goldstein's "Halpern and Johnson" has taken a bumpy,
circuitous route in coming to the North Coast Repertory Theatre
stage. It started out as an HBO teleplay in 1983 starring Laurence
Olivier and Jackie Gleason. And that might have been the end of its
history if Goldstein hadn't been so fond of the piece.

The story follows two men late who shared companionship with the
same woman for a number of years. They don't meet until after her
death.

"He really loves the story and so he fleshed it out into a
two-person play," said David Ellenstein, artistic director of North
Coast Rep. "And a few theaters in England (Goldstein's homeland)
produced it."

Ellenstein and Goldstein met 12 years ago when they were
introduced by a mutual friend. That friend ended up representing
"Halpern and Johnson." Ellenstein wanted to direct the play when he
ran the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre, but instead Ellenstein gave
the play its American premiere at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in
Miami. That gave Ellenstein the opportunity to direct Hal Linden
and Brian Murray.

"Our production is only the second in America and its West Coast
premiere," he said. "I wanted to do this play again because it's a
script that makes me laugh and makes me cry. When a play does both
those things, I have to do it.

"It's a fascinating character study of these two men. There are
a lot of nuances to it. It's a little bit of 'Waiting for Godot'
and a Neil Simon comedy. It's also a two-man play. I've done my
share of two-handers, so it's right up my alley."

Ellenstein handpicked two accomplished actors for the roles.
Playing Halpern is Robert Grossman, who appeared in North Coast
Rep's "Breaking Legs" and "The Chosen," winning a San Diego Theatre
Critics Circle Award for the latter. Longtime San Diego favorite
Jonathan McMurtry plays Johnson. McMurtry last performed at North
Coast Rep in "A Life in the Theatre."

"They are two of my oldest and best friends," Ellenstein said.
"I just turn them loose on the stage, so my job's pretty easy. My
biggest challenge is keeping my mouth shut."

Goldstein has also been part of the process, flying in to watch
rehearsals.

"He wanted to be with us," he said. "He's a great guy. And we
both feel that this is a play that's best in an intimate stage,
rather than the 1,100-seat Grove. I think this production is going
to be more moving and leave more of an indelible impression.
There's more of a sense of intimate reality."

And so, after more than 20 years, Goldstein's play is where it
should be.

"I want people to watch this show and realize that the way they
see themselves may not be the way they are," Ellenstein said.
"Perspective is everything and adding a new piece of information
can change your world."